Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-11-11
A FATAL BLOW UP.
Walter Hawiey Killed By an Elk.
ploding OIL Tank at the
Gas Factory.

A loud explosion startled the city
| Wednesday afternoon at | 80 o'clock
which was quickly followed by The
ringing of the fire bell and the shril
blowing of the railroad yard engine
A dark cloud of black smoke slowly
rose from the direction of the ga'
factory, but there were no flames and
the fire company which was called
out, was not needed.
Investigation showed that there
had been a horrible explosion, which
blew up one of the oil tanks at the
gas works and killed Walter Hawley,
an eleven-year-old son Of the Super
intendent Mr.. j. b. Hawlcy.
1t is not known what caused the
explosion. The Superintendent had
received that morning a supply OF
naphtha, a bituminous and highly In
flammable oil from which the gas Is
made, and was having the large tank
just outside the building re-iilled.
The little boy was standing on the
top Of the iron tank watching the
oil run in and II is supposed that he
struck = match and held 1t TO the
hole to zee how much had run in.
This will never be known for the
boy never regained consciousness af-
ter the explosion and no one saw his
movements. Suddenly Mr.. Hawley
and Mr.. S. II. Harrison, who were
talking about 30 yards from the
tank, heard the terrific explosion
and saw the cloud OF smoke rise
from the tank. The north end of
the tank was blown out and hurled
across Fourth Street, some 80 yards
The pine connecting with the tank
on the car was broken and Mr.. Haw-
ley ran TO cut off the flow of oil,
which was wasting on the ground.
When he returned in few seconds
Mr.. Harrison remarked "There was
a boy on that tank just now" and
running to the scene Mr.. Hawley
found his son lying some 20 steps
away, between the gas tank and en-
CINE house. 1t is not known wheth-
er he was blown there or ran there
himself. His clothes were burnt off
and he was lying naked and
the grass was burning around
him. A bucket full of water
was thrown on him and he was
picked up by Mr.. Hawley, who was
severely burned in doing SO. He was
still alive but was a horrible sight to
look upon. His eyes were burned
out, his nose burned Off and the flesh
on his face and entire body was bis
tered until peeled off when touched
His hands and feet were literally
cooked and his hair was all burned
of. The flesh was blackened until
the features were unacceptable.
The sufferer was unconscious and
when taken to his home made no
movements except to tear the flesh
from his breast with his fingers, his
arms being drawn until his hands
lay across his body. When his
socks were removed the flesh left the
bones of his feet and came of with
the socks. Medical aid was sum-
moned but nothing could be done
aud death relieved his sulerings at 6
o'clock.
The little fellow was a bright,
promising boy. Mrs. Hawley tainted
when told of the horrible accident,
but was restored to consciousness by
prompt medical attention.
The building was not damaged and
the only loss sustained was ON the
exploded tank and the wasted oil,
which will probably amount TO sew.
eral hundred dollars. The culvert on
the railroad opposite was ignited but
the flames were extinguished before
any damage was done.